Linux Sys Admin Career advice

Hey all,
I am currently in the middle of a dilemma. I have been using Linux at home for 4 years now and am currently studying a course in Networking and Distributed system at University. I'm due to finish my bachelor degree in December with the option of extending my course to a 4 year degree to get honours.
From looking around job sites I see Linux Administrator jobs require HND or Bachelors degrees, I’ve not seen any that have required the full 4 year Honours degree to be considered for the job. I have my RHCT Cert which I passed a few months ago.

The decision i'm trying to make is do I stay on for the extra year or do I just leave this year and get industry experience instead. I've spoken with university careers about this but they just confuse things more. Any input or advice would be much appreciated

The feedback I'm going to give you is going to sound pessimistic and I
don't mean for it to be, just being very honest.

Right now, depending on which market you are trying to find work in,
there are more SysAdm types out there looking for work than there are
positions available. Anything you can do to enhance your marketability
is going to be a plus. However, there are no magic bullets out there.

Your first job as a Linux System Administrator is going to be hard to
land unless you are really lucky. The job requisitions I'm seeing out
there are asking for a ridiculous amount of both education and
experience and yet the salaries are pretty much entry level salaries. It
is as if the hiring managers want it all, a "fresh out" who has had 10
years experience and knows every aspect there is to system
administration, programming, network engineering and oh by the way
clustering technology. Some of the stuff in that list you couldn't
possibly learn without actually being hands on.

So there ya have it. I've probably added to your confusion. The job
market is a buyer's market right now.

--
Peter L. Berghold, Australian Cattle Dog Owner, Agility Fan, Foodie,
Salty Old Dog and Old School Unix Hacker.
Skype: cowdawg
"Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it"

There was a study not long ago, found that people who entered the job market in a down economy never catch up to those starting in good times. They languish in low-paying jobs, and never advance as far in their careers long-term.

Jump in to the industry! Think of your delema like investing. You have two
important elements on the amount of funds you have to invest and two time.
The sooner you can get your funds in the better you will be.

I would not recommend you spend an funds investing in stock, however would
deffinatly recommend you invest your time in the real IT world.

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Pele never had asked himself about stay more time in junior team or
adventure to the professional ones.
Ayrton Senna never asked himself about stay more time playing kart
Santos Dumont never asked himself about stay more years in university.

Brazil president never gone to university.

ALL OF THEM HAD JUST BELIEVED WHAT THEY HEARTS TOLD TO DO.

Do you know climbing mountains? Is like that. YOU NEED TO ENJOY THE
ENTIRELY CLIMBING NOT JUT BE THERE because without put your passion
during the course you will FAIL
Be excellence in all you do

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